Drainage-plug for water-cooling radiators



F. W. KIDDER.

DRAINAGE PLUG FOR WATER COOLING RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1917

Patented June 10, 1919.

I 4. I a

I JNVENTOR. By r4? ki/K/f/adexr AOEY i To all whom it may concern:

"orrnn s,

FRANK W. Kmmiaw NORTON, ANs-As.

. nnamneni nue non WATER-COOLING RADIATORS.

Be it known that I, FRANK W. Kinnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norton, in the county of Norton and State of Kansas, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Drainage-Plugs for Water-Cooling Radiators; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art 'to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of,refer ence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification j H My invention relates to drainage plugs for water cooling radiators, and more particularly to plugs of this character applicable to the drainage openings of the conventional type of water cooling radiators used in con junction with automobile engines; the principal object of the invention being to pro vide a plug, whereby, under normal condi tions, water is prevented from flowingfrom the radiator and'which contains an automatically controlled outlet which will be opened when the temperature of'the' water falls to or'below a predetermined degree, so that the water may flow from the radiator before a freezing temperature is reached and damage done to the radiator and other water containing parts drained therethrough. In accomplishing this object I have pro vided improved details of structure, the preferred jforn1s of which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein :a i Figure I is a vertical, sectional view'of a water cooling radiator showing a drainage plug, constructed according to the present invention, applied to the drainage opening in the base thereof. a

Fig. II is an enlargedvertical,isectional View of the plug, showing the drainage channel closed. r

.Fig. III is a similar view showing the position of the valve when the channel is open.

Fig; IV is a detail sectional view illustrating the operation of i the diaphragm for Specification of Letters Patent. t t J ne 10, 1919, Application filed October 29, 1917. Serial No. 199,144.

inders 'to maintain the latter at a workable temperature.

In its base 2 the radiatoris provided with an opening 3, through which water from the radiator, and other water containing parts connected thereto, may be drained, and threaded into said opening to normally prevent a flow of water from the radiator and its communicating parts-is a drainage plug 4 embodying the present invention. I

In its preferred form, the plug comprises a tubular body portion 5 provided near its lower end with an externally threaded surface 6, whereby the device is connected to the threaded opening and'when it is in functional position, that part of the tubular body above the threaded surface, extends verti- Cally within the radiator and the portion below the threads extends accessibly from the radiator and is provided with an enlarged portion forming a wrench head 7 whereby a central discharge opening 11 through which water entering the tube through a plurality of normally closed openings 12, located in the tube above the threaded portion 5 and closely adjacent the floor of the radiator, may be drained from the radiator. Slidably contained within the upper :POI' tion of thetube 5, and fitting snugly therein, is a piston valve 15, which is maintained, when the temperature of the water is between certain predetermined limits, at such position that the openings 12 are closed and any possible flow of water from the radiator through the plug is prevented. Connected with the upper side of the .piston 15 is a rod or stem 16, which at its upper end is anchored centrally to a horizontally disposed flexible diaphragm 17, of slightly greater diameter than the inner diameter of the tube 5, which moves slidably within the tube in accordance with the movement of the piston valve, and at certain times, as will be presently described, isadapted to seat Within an annular groove 18 in the inner surface of the tube.

To actuate the valve in the manner intendedI fill the space" between the closed upper end of the tube and the piston valve .15 with elxpansible inedium, preferably mercury, the volume of which increases or decreases in accordance with temperature variations, and I perforate the diaphragm 17 so that a flow of the medium maybe permitted from one side thereof to the opposite side, as its volume changesrunder temperature variations and proper action of the valve parts is not prevented,

Located within the tube below the piston,

and hearing at one end against the peripheral shoulder 10, and at its opposite end against the under side of the piston, to urge I the latter upwardly against the mercury filling the upper end of the tube, is a coil spring 20; it being apparent that an 1ncrease in volume of the mercury W111 force the piston downwardly and depress the spring, but by a decrease in volume ,of the mercury the piston will be lifted by the pressure of the spring. 7 7

When thevalve is in closed position the piston 15 overlies the openings 12 and the periphery of the diaphragm '17 is located within or below the annular groove 18 in a downwardly concave position asis shown in Fig. II. \Vith the plug properly located in the radiator opening and the valve in closed posit-ion, under normal conditions of temperature the valve will be maintained within certain limits to cover the ports 12 and fiow of water from the radiator is prevented. Assuming, however, that the temperature of the water approaches a freezing. degree, it is apparent that the mercury will decrease in volume and that under pressure of the spring 20 the piston will move upwardly to ultimately uncover the openings 12. and water will be permitted to drain from the radiator before damage is done thereto as would result should it be allowed to freeze therein. V

- In order that the piston movement may be rmade' quick and decisive when closing or opening the ports, so that a partial opening is not permissible, I have so located'theannular groove 18 relative to the openings,

12 that just priorto the final movement of the piston, which would uncover the ports as the piston moves upwardly, the diaphragmseats itself in the groove 18 in its slightly downwardlyv concaved condition downward direction to closefthe openings is effected by the expansion of the mercury, 1

which moves the piston downwardly against the pressure of the spring 20. This downward movement is temporarily checked ]11Sl3 before a final movement which would bring the valve over the ports as the diaphragm, in

its upwardly concaved condition,m.oves into the peripheral groove. 18. tinued eXpa-nsionof the mercury will snap the diaphragm to an opposite or downwardly concaved position an the piston will be moved quickly acrossand will en tirely close the ports. 7 1 I The groove 18 is not, however,made of. suflicient depth to prevent' a further move ment of thediaphragm, but the lattermay move downwardly: or upwardly .across :the

However, congroove according to its concaved condition."

, In makingthe device it isypreferable to.

use metal tubing, asthis is easily threaded v and is substantial However, I do not wish to limit the construction to metal, as, when mercury is used as the expansible medium, its tendency to cling to certain metals, or the difiiculty in confiningit in such a device, is detrimental to its operation, andglass tubing in some cases proves more effective although not as substantial.

Assuming that the device isso constructed and apphed to aradlator as descrlbed, it is apparent that between certain degrees of temperaturethe valve piston 15 maybe maintained to preVentJan-y flow of water from the radiator, but should the tempera ture decrease to orbelow a certain degree, contraction of the mercury will permit the valve to'move sufficiently to uncover the ports and the radiator willbe drainedthera, through. V Y I It is also apparent that by providing a flexible diaphragm and connecting it to the piston, as described, operation of the valve to close or open the'ports is made quick i:

and decisive anda partial opening, whereby the flow. could be made so slow-that freezing might occur beforev the drainagewas completed, is not possible.

Having thus described my invention, what l r I claim asnew therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: 1. A plug of the character described adapted for location within the drainage V 7 opening of a water; cooling radiator, comprising a tubular body having a closed upper and an open lower end and'wall ports, therein throughwhich said radiator maybe drained and having an annular groove in its inner surface, a piston slidable. within 7 7 the tube to close or open said wall ports, a flexible diaphragm slidable within the tube and operatively connected with said piston, and having a greater diameter than the nner diameter of the tube to retain the same in a concaved condition; the periphery of said. diaphragm being adapted to seat within said groove when moved thereacross to effect a reversal of the concavity of the diaphragm, and an expansible medium con able within the tube, a rod extending up-. wardly from the piston, a flexible, perforated diaphragm mounted on the rod and slidable within the tube and retained thereby in a concaved condition, the periphery of the diaphragm being adapted to seat within the said annular groove as-it moves thereacross to effect a reverseof the concavity thereof, and an expansib-le medium confined within the tube above the piston to move the piston downwardly and a spring located within the lower end of the tube to actuate the piston upwardly on contraction of the said medium, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, comprising a tubular body having wall ports therein and an annular groove spaced therefrom, a piston slidable within the tube to close or open said ports, a rod attached to the piston, a diaphragm attached to the rod and slidable in the tube into and across said diaphragm being of said groove; greater diameter than the inner diameter of the tube and retained in a concaved condition; the length of said rod being such that withthe diaphragm seated in the said groove and concaved upwardly the piston will entirely uncover the wall ports and when concaved downwardly will entirely close said ports.

4:. .A draining plug comprising a tube, oneend of which is closed and the other end of which is provided with a shoulder surrounding an opening, the tube being provided with ports in the wall intermediate its ends and having an annular groove therein, a piston in said tube, a stem on the piston, a flexible diaphragm on the stem movable into and out of engagement with said groove, a spring, one end of which bears against the piston and the other end of which bears against the shoulder and an expansible medium in the tube between the piston and the closed end thereof.

5. A draining plug comprising a tube, one end of which is closed, the other end of which is provided with a shoulder surrounding an opening, the wall of the tube intermediate its ends having perforations and having an annular groove therein, a piston in the tube to cover and uncover the perforations, a stem on the piston, a diaphragm on the stem and movable into and out of engagement with said groove, a spring interposed between the piston and the shoulder in the tube and an expansible medium in the tube between the piston and the closed end thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK W. KIDDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

